No usual Friday morning for you this week due to other commitments so we’ll plough headlong into Arsène’s press conference yesterday. There is a casual calm about players contracts at the moment so why should the club or manager worry about his? As he pointed out, there are two years to go until his reaches its natural conclusion and not having terminated a contract to this point, well, to do so now would genuinely break the habits of a lifetime. No rush to re-sign and business as usual, stiff upper lip and all that jazz.
He has previous in probably every deal going since beginning his tenure as manager and it is curious timing to begin talking about contract renewals now. It seems to have been media driven with an agenda to trap Ivan Gazidis into saying that the trophy drought is causing questions to be asked at the highest level, a new angle with which to view the club. Or a different one at least and in that sense, there is no problem with the line of questioning. Arsenal should be questioned about decisions and certainly the media has better access than we do, opportunities to tackle issues that shed light – or more light – on the thinking of the hierarchy. It’s a lot better than the usual sensationalism with which they address player contracts, for example.
Managerial reigns are frequently terminated at the drop of a hat, this is a results business and the remedy for a poor run is the axe being wielded. Rare is the manager who finds their contract being allowed to reach their end without being renewed. Unless of course, you have been flirting with another employer…
It is one of the few roles in football which has retained the power of the owner and there has been no move anywhere to offer any protection in the same way that players have wrestled control from the clubs. Sporadically there are comments that a ‘managerial window’ ought to exist, similar opportunities for managers to be removed from their jobs or poached. Unsurprisingly clubs ignore or ridicule such measures and I doubt it will ever change, to be honest why should it?
As quickly as he quashed discussions about his own future, Wenger moved to do the same about Bacary Sagna. Typically for Arsenal fans, there is a vocal minority who disparage the full backs contract talk due to injuries, as if his legs being broken by opponents were his own fault. There used to be something in the British legal system about contributory negligence – Attila The Stockbroker did a great poem on it – and no doubt in what passes for their minds, he is entirely culpable.
Having previously revealed that his own view is that unhappy players can take a hike, Wenger sought to defuse any animosity toward his charge,
Yes [I spoke to him]. It’s important to understand what he wanted to say. What he wanted to say was not exactly the spirit of the whole thing. You have the freedom to say what you want in life but it is also important you understand what people feel about the club and their job. It’s always important to have good communication with them.
Sort of fell down on that one, didn’t you Le Boss? Sagna’s gripe was predominantly about the lack of contact over a new deal, something which the manager assured everyone will happen, and also about the sale of Song to Barcelona. The latter strikes me more about the sadness of seeing a friend depart than a concern about the depth in midfield. As Arsène noted, Song was really a One In Ten as far as that is concerned. That he felt hurt by recent summers lack of loyalty as youngsters he had nutured flew the nest, was evident in his casual dismissal of Song’s sale.
Looking ahead to tomorrow’s match with Southampton, the injury news was unsurprising. Abou Diaby is rated as 50:50 which given the comments from Didier Deschamps will come as no shock to anyone. Looking at the walking wounded, it offers the opportunity for Francis Coquelin to put his talent where his mouth is. The youngster wanted an opportunity, presumably Arsène will offer it although restoring Diaby for the matches against Montepellier and Manchester City will be key; there is no sense in rushing matters unnecessarily.
The goalkeepers offer the manager a selection headache in some minds. To me the matter is clear cut; you always choose your best goalkeeper for the match. Vito Mannone has played well overall so far but is not the best goalkeeper at the club, in my opinion that is Szczesny and if he is now fit, Vito must be moved aside. However, it seems that Mannone has pushed himself ahead of Lukasz Fabianski and will be viewed as the natural substitute when needed. It does Szczesny good to know that one of the others is capable of filling his boots. Mannone needed luck and help at Anfield but he produced saves when required.
Fabianski is a curious case though. He has a shoulder injury again according to the manager. That does not sit with the new s he was an unused substitute for Poland this week; is this a tactical injury similar to those Manuel Almunia suffered in his latter years at the club? It would be a pity if this is how his career is ending in north London but of no surprise. He was a highly-rated goalkeeper but for whatever reason, nerves got the better of him and he took time to recover from those early setbacks; ridicule in the national press would not have helped either. When he did and performed reasonably well, injury cost him his first choice place and his compatriot seized the opportunity gleefully. It would come as no surprise if Fabianski left the club this winter.
’til Tomorrow.
It strikes me that at present the right wing is the only position no one can be sure of. It was Theo’s by right, or so it seemed, but Gervinho has looked very good in both pre-season and on international duty, Rambo has had a run out there, Santo can of course play there but I wouldn’t move him.
Gervinho is the only concern for me. He looks so good and yet seems hesitant sometimes when playing for us. Undoubted talent, ability and experience but just need, confidence? A goal? Coupe of Piresesque assists?
Also Jonny he had to play a lot more last season than Arsene may have wanted. Now while he would want to start every game he can take his place in the squad and develop around Santi and MA and AD2 without the weight of expectation on his shoulders.
Am I the only person who still believes arshavin will rediscover himself in the arsenal colours?
is this about right?
Schz/vito/fabianski (in that order)
sagna/jenkinson —- verm/kos/djourou —- mert/kos/djourou/squillaci —–santos/gibbs
wilshere/diaby/arteta/rambo/coq/frimpong/ox —– 2 places
cazorla/rosicky/arshavin/rambo/ox —– 1 place
walcott/ox/gerv —- giroud/podolski/chamakh/aneke/ —- podolski/gerv/arshavin/
Am I the only person who still believes arshavin will rediscover himself in the arsenal colours?
is this about right?
Schz/vito/fabianski (in that order)
sagna/jenkinson/djourou —- verm/kos/djourou —- mert/kos/djourou/squillaci —–santos/gibbs/verm
wilshere/diaby/arteta/rambo/coq/frimpong/ox —– 2 places
cazorla/rosicky/arshavin/rambo/ox —– 1 place
walcott/ox/gerv —- giroud/podolski/chamakh/aneke/ —- podolski/gerv/arshavin/
arteta should be 2nd choice instead of 3rd?
makes me wonder if there exists a single reason as to why this squad cannot conquer the PL
WhY?
September 14, 2012 at 7:07 pm
“Am I the only person who still believes arshavin will rediscover himself in the arsenal colours? ”
far from it. I believe he has a role to play for us. Experienced, skilful player who can fillet the opposition when the fancy takes him. Just don’t think he’ll be a first choice again. But you only have to look at TR7 to see how a player can Lazurus like revive his fortunes.
just saw the arsenal photo shoot out.
as much as hate to read into these superficial matters, arshavin not being shown even once hurt me a little.
WhY?
September 14, 2012 at 7:08 pm
arteta should be 2nd choice instead of 3rd?
Um, don’t know about you but if I was picking the team I’d only start sucking the end of my pencil whilst wearing a puzzled expression after writing the name Mikel Arteta on my blank piece of paper.
I can think of one or two who still believe in Andrei! However, the pertinent question is – does AW?
Steww – yes the pressure is removed now. It’s almost worked out well for him in this respect as being thrown in and having lots of playing time last season will have helped with his stamina and mental recovery. He should, in theory, not have any big hurdles and be able to focus on expressing himself and enjoying the game.
I look forward to it unfolding with much hope for him to unlock those undoubted talents.
steww -
i totally agree he is not a first choice player anymore, but yeah like you say i do too believe he has a role to play – a significant one at that.
remember those days when people like edu, kanu ..played around 20 odd games a season and were loved like mad – i really think AA could be that player for us this season. he is pure magic, magic no one else at arsenal has at this moment.(maybe cazorla)
I am not sure if any player at Arsenal is more talented than Arshavin. It is up to him to force his way back in. Could he not play the free role that Santi has taken up and do it well, I feel so. I hope he is working hard and get’s back to what we know he can do.
Arteta, is the midfield anchor. Not that we cannot rotate but no player at Arsenal does what he does better, I think.
“Um, don’t know about you but if I was picking the team I’d only start sucking the end of my pencil whilst wearing a puzzled expression after writing the name Mikel Arteta on my blank piece of paper.”
I sooooooo wish I had said that,Because it is sooooooooooooo true.
MVP= Arteta
okay.
arteta should probably be a certainty in this squad – i agree.
but do you really think he is better than wilshere and diaby? i mean what he does has more to do with his footballing intellect than skill, surely wilshere or diaby can do it as well?
why does it not work like that?
on a different note :-
sometimes i think, if only selecting a squad or picking a team from a squad is as simple as that.
what i mean is, would arshavin really fare any well knowing that he is third choice in a position, would he really play every sporadic match that he is fielded in like he did against netherlands in the euro 2008.
would it make any difference he knows he is trusted? that he knows he will get a run of matches continuously?
i mean how do you extract the best collective output from a squad? why is there no single objective function with all these parameters, why is managing football not more easy?
on an entirely different note again :-
why does barcelona have only 19 players in the squad with the majority of them almost never injured – please dont say its because they play in spain and its less physical there. i watch all barcelona matches and i respectfully disagree to that notion. plus rarely does a barcelona player show signs of fatigue – again i dont believe its because they play in spain.
i in my experience as a player and an observer and an arsenal fan made up answers to all this in my head (which could all be as far away from truth as the earth is from the sun.)
I’d like to hear from you all as i read all your comments regularly (for a long time now
) and find more sense here than anywhere else.
Why, La Liga is less physical. I also watch and there is no doubt.
How many Barca players have had their legs snapped in half? that should answer all questions as to how PL teams come at Arsenal.
None of us are really qualified to answer Why?
Managing a football team to the levels required is incredibly difficult. To do so consistently, as the very best do, takes an exceptional set of skills and incredible application.
We may talk a good game but the reality is we should most look on and wonder.
Occasionally we may spout some wisdom – but I think most of us know our true place.
BTW it’s the second part of that last sentence which accounts for the fact you feel as though you ‘find more sense here than anywhere else’…
NOT the first.
Evening all.
Just to go back to the ‘what will Wenger do next’ debate – I’d be amazed if he didn’t re-sign as it would make little sense not to do so. He’s spent over ten years working towards the point represented by 2014 – why walk away then?
His talk about not ‘being in the mood’ to think about it is as much about defusing – or at least side-stepping – the doomer negativity as anything else. History is littered with leaders threatening to ‘go on and on’ and it’s never gone down well. So it’s no surprise to see AW avoid that particular trap. He knows his life will be easier if he adds to his success between now and 2014 and he’s sufficiently secure in his place to not need to sign up before then.
In any case, he’s already said it – he’s an Arsenal man.
La fin.
“but do you really think he is better than wilshere and diaby? i mean what he does has more to do with his footballing intellect than skill, surely wilshere or diaby ”
Why,He is more valuable to the team than them.If it was Just about skill Arshavin would be first name.But its not and he isn’t.
The question is could Wilshere and Diaby do what Arteta does as well as he does.
Evening Andrew.
Yep Paul I agree. Only three games in but as the anchor or DM or holding player or whatever the hell else you want him to be called Arteta has been a revelation. Next time Kos or TV goes swashbuckling through the opposition midfield watch who is straight back slotting in, covering, reading the game in case things break down. Then see who is emergency left back when Gibbs is doing his job upfield but crucially see who takes the ball turns away from danger and calmly gets us moving again, time and time and time again.
What a great purchase from AW. Prem experienced with the talent to step up to our level. Just the kind of player he is supposed not to buy.
WhY,
“remember those days when people like edu, kanu ..played around 20 odd games a season and were loved like mad”
silverware inspires fans to “worship” players.
once gooners get that flame re-lit, love will follow.
this season smells like the one..
Arteta was brilliant last season and his play at the “DM” position so far this season is even better. I agree with George at 8:15.
Paul-N,
“could Wilshere and Diaby do what Arteta does as well as he does.”
No, but they wouldn’t be way off.
Arteta’s had a very eventful professional career. Its instilled much character in him.
Evening Steww – good points re: Arteta. I think he’d have got into any Arsenal side in the past which effectively puts him up there with Viera, DB10 et al. It’s a big shout but I honestly see him as being THAT important to the side.
Stating the patently obvious, I know, but I think we are incredibly fortunate to have both him and Cazorla in the side; how the big spenders allowed that to happen I will never quite fathom …
Am so looking forward to tomorrow – as someone said earlier, this has been a spectacularly dull interlull; feels like a month since we seen ‘proper’ football!
Aman, maybe in the future but right now i think they both would be way off. They are more attacking players. That is no slight either, I don’t see too many players who can anchor a team the way Arteta does. The guy is top class.
He is (Arteta) the consummate professional.
Andrew:
As George says, Arteta is the consummate professional and what he does is not spectacular but just very efficient so he can avoid detection by those looking for the flashy player. Like you I have no clue how Cazorla flew under the radar. Supposedly Madrid tried to get him in the past and he did not want to go there. Surprised someone else with deeper pockets then our didn’t latch on to him in the past.
In answer to the earlier discussion about how many languages the boss speaks, answer is 5 plus a bit of Japanese. The 5 are French, German, English, Spanish and Italian. There’s a great clip of him speaking about it on Desi Gunner’s blog at http://desigunner.wordpress.com/2012/09/15/thoughts-on-tactics-and-starting-eleven-against-southampton/.
http://www.aclfarsenal.co.uk/?p=9498
Today’s post.